Heroes are Forever: The Life and Times of Celtic Legend Jimmy McGrory

Product Information

Not long after this, and before the season was out, he was recalled to Celtic. In his time at Clydebank he played 33 League and Scottish Cup games, scoring 16 goals. Having returned to Celtic, he featured in the Glasgow Charity Cup semi-final against Queens Park on 6 May 1924, scoring in a 2–0 win. The final was two days later on 8 May 1924, where he played at outside-left in a 2–1 win over Rangers. [12] In 1928, with Jimmy McGrory well-established as one of Europe’s greatest goalscorers, manager Willie Maley took him south on what was, on the face of it, a pilgrimage to Lourdes, which included two stops in London, once on the way and again on the road home.

I could see a time, when a man who seems to value his personal life and that of his family, feels smothered by the attention and affection, but he won’t jump from the boat mid-stream, that’s simply not his style. Why can’t Celtic play away from home in Europe? This question is frequently asked but never more so than tonight when they cannot even get a draw against Rosenborg, a team who are in no way Celtic’s superiors? It is a truly awful performance and things are not helped by the realisation that both Rosenborg goals were scored by Harald Brattbakk, a man who had his moments when he was with Celtic, but was scarcely in the category of Jimmy McGrory! Celtic appeared in their “Hibs reverse” strip of white jerseys and green sleeves. It was not a bad strip (although inferior to the green and white horizontal stripes) and it was a shame that this handsome combination of colours would turn out to be the last ever time that Celtic would wear this strip. Already a few weeks previously, they had appeared in an all-green strip against Queen’s Park at Hampden, and the all green strip would now become the “second” strip.Celtic Retain Custody of Glasgow Charity Cup 17 May 1937. The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

In 1954 Celtic won their first league and cup double for forty years, [75] and their first league title since 1938. [76] Celtic finished five points ahead of Hearts in the league and had the best defensive record in the division (only 29 goals conceded). [77] The Scottish Cup Final was contested between Celtic and Aberdeen. A keenly contested match was won by a Sean Fallon goal after excellent play from Willie Fernie. [58] [78] a b c d e "IFFHS All time World's best goal scorer ranking". IFFHS. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021. The Rally concluded with some music and the sincerest thanks was directed towards Jimmy McGrory for the joy he brought to many Celtic fans, his incredible loyalty to the club and his remarkable character as a man. Finally, he had been given a fitting show of appreciation. Although, there is no doubting that he understood how loved he was by the supporters as opposed to the old boardrooms of Celtic Park and Hampden. They lined the streets about eight deep that night, and great was the joy at the sight of the young McGrory holding the trophy. Maley had insisted on this. His young protege had won the Cup for the club. It was therefore right that he should be the man who carried it. “Give young McGrory the Cup” he had said.

#8 Uwe Seeler (Hamburg) - 489 goals

a b Craig, Jim (23 October 2011). "24th October 1962 Celtic 2 Valencia 2 Fairs Cup | Jim Craig Celtic Supporter's Club". Jimcraigcsc.wordpress.com . Retrieved 5 August 2013. The problem was a man called Hughie Gallagher, a superb centre-forward for Airdrie and Newcastle United. It was difficult to unseat him, as he was such a prolific scorer, but McGrory’s chance came on 25 February 1928 when he was chosen to play for Scotland against Northern Ireland at Firhill. It was felt that he could hardly be ignored, as six weeks previously he had set up a record by scoring eight goals in a single game against Dunfermline Athletic. McGrory would later explain his decision in the simplest of terms. He said: “McGrory of Arsenal just never sounded as good as McGrory of Celtic.” It goes without saying that anyone who stays at Celtic long enough to be on this list must be a great player. And to score so often as well is further testimony to them having genuine quality. Lawton Needs 150 To Beat McGrory". Dundee Courier, 1 February 1945, p.4. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2021. (Subscription required.)

a b "Scottish League Division One 1930-31". Scottish Football Historical Archive . Retrieved 28 September 2015. In fact, Forrest is not finished yet. He is contracted until 2025, and if he manages at least one goal next season too then he would move to joint third in the club’s all-time record. IMAGO / Colorsport PAUL McSTAY AND ROY AITKEN CELEBRATE CELTIC WINNING THE SCOTTISH CUP. CELTIC V DUNDEE UNITED,14/5/88. But the truth is statistics and photographs can never really explain why this most courageous and sporting of footballers holds such a uniquely special place in the hearts of the Celtic support. Jimmy McGrory polished his goalscoring skills playing for St Roch’s School and also transferred that to the local St Roch’s Boys’ Guild. If Celtic weren’t in action, though, most fans in the area would walk along to Provanmill Park to watch the recently-formed St Roch’s Juniors where he played as a 16-year-old. However, it wasn’t long before the seniors had their eye on the striker but, despite a trial for Bury, it was no surprise when the teenager signed on the dotted line for his beloved Celtic. Lawton Has 550 To 'Bag' To Beat Record". Birmingham Daily Gazette, Thursday 1 February 1945, p.3. Via British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2021. (Subscription required.)In six full seasons, Henrik Larsson was Scotland’s highest goalscorer five times. His seven years at Celtic featured a sensational return of 242 goals in all competitions, which, when you consider he missed the majority of the 1999-2000 due to a compound leg fracture which had put his entire career in doubt, was no mean feat. Oh yes, and he returned the following season with 53 goals in 50 appearances. Not bad. If he had been allowed a full career with Celtic", McGrory continued, "I am sure he would have become one of the all-time great goalscorers. He only played for half a season we won the European Cup, playing his last game before Christmas, yet he ended up joint top scorer in Scotland. What a year that could have been for him. He was a tremendous header of the ball and could take a half-chance on the ground. And his heart was in the right place." The referee was Hugh Phillips of Wishaw, not a popular man with some Celtic supporters but generally regarded as one of the best referees in Scotland. He would have a good game that day, keeping the lid on a pot that could have on many occasions boiled over.

Both times, the two men met representatives of Arsenal, who attempted to persuade McGrory to join the English club. McGrory refused all overtures, despite the lucrative offer Arsenal made to him, later saying ‘Jimmy McGrory of Arsenal would never have sounded as good as Jimmy McGrory of Celtic.’ Signed by Willie Maley in June 1921 from junior side St Roch as an inside-right, Jimmy McGrory initally spent a season loaned out to Clydebank where he was switched to centre-forward before returning to Glasgow. In that short spell he helped to show his worth as a striker by scoring a respectable 13 goals in 30 games, and even scoring a winning goal for the then languishing Bankies side in a 2-1 win over Celtic. He also led Celtic to their famous 7-1 Scottish League Cup Final win over Rangers in 1957, which to this day remains a record score-line in a major British cup final. [79] The game and McGrory are remembered in the supporters' song "Hampden in the Sun". [80] McGrory is also remembered in another popular song amongst the supporters named after his manager, the "Willie Maley Song". [81] The 1925–26 season was a successful one both personally and collectively, with Celtic winning the First Division and him finishing the season with 49 goals in all competitions, [16] which included a streak that saw him scoring in seven consecutive league games. [17] Celtic reached their second successive Scottish Cup Final, but McGrory this time was on the losing side as they lost 2–0 to St Mirren. [18]

#3 Gerd Muller (Bayern Munich) - 566 goals

Players - Bobby Collins - Part 2 - Home grown hero" (PDF). The Mighty Mighty Whites. p.5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016 . Retrieved 14 February 2014. Some – including famous captains – have scored in many seasons, just not all in a row. Billy McNeill scored in 13 different seasons for Celtic, but (perhaps aptly) 9-in-a-row was his scoring limit. Scott Brown also scored in 13 seasons, but 10-in-a-row was his record.